Meet the Team

My name is Micha, I am an artist, designer, ceramicist, and mother! I am Beechwood Pottery Studio’s Technician which means it’s my job to keep the studio running smoothly, safely, and efficiently. This includes operating our kiln firings, making our glazes, testing and maintaining our materials, and making sure the studio has everything it needs to run our classes.

Growing up in Mexico, pottery & ceramics permeated my everyday life, planting the seeds of appreciation that later, as I attended art school in Toronto, flourished into an art I love creating. The mindfulness that comes with the humbling and gratifying craft of pottery, as well as the gift it is to make beautiful, thoughtful things in an age of mass production & consumption are gifts I hope you too will walk away with from Beechwood Pottery.

I am a pottery instructor and ceramicist with nearly 20 years’ pedagogical experience across a range of disciplines. Originally from the United States, I have spent several summers based at the Sally Jones Pottery in Montreat, North Carolina, where I have served as a pottery instructor, ceramics supervisor, and artist in residence. I recently moved to Ottawa with my wife, Lyndsey, and our two cats Gary and Maurice.

I am particularly passionate about working with beginners and students who may be returning to clay following time away. My ceramics teaching is rooted in enabling the self-discovery process, especially in a medium that many initially find intimidating. Even when working with large groups of students, I place a premium on interpersonal warmth, good humour, and a long-term, don’t-sweat-the-small-stuff perspective.

I am a pottery teacher with an extensive experience in the instructional and technical aspects of pottery. I respond to students’ creative and technical needs subtly reinforcing the fundamentals of pinch pots, coils, slabs, and throwing, before integrating other methods for more advanced students.

By tailoring classes to my students and fostering an encouraging learning environment I have generated a loyal student base, including students who have been attending my classes for over 15 years.

I have trained and supervised other instructors, responding to technical questions on glazes and equipment, and supporting them in meeting their students' needs.

My name is Maria, and I'm the founder of Beechwood Pottery Studio. I've been an amateur potter for years and wanted to bring my love for the art to our community right here in Beechwood.

My creative outlets include sewing, cooking, and of course, pottery!